Thai DPM to attend 11th ADMM & 4th ADMM-Plus in Philippines

BANGKOK, October 20 (TNA) - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also Defence Minister, will visit the Philippines next week to attend the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) & 4th ADMM-Plus. Defence Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Kongcheep Tantrawanit told journalists on Thursday that the deputy prime minister and defence minister is scheduled to lead a Thai delegation to attend the 11th ADMM & the 4th ADMM-Plus in the Philippines during October 22-24. The spokesman said during the three-day twin forums, the Thai delegates will discuss military and security cooperation in the region with their counterparts from other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and those from the 10-member bloc's dialogues partners, including the United States, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan and South Korea. According to the spokesman, a new ASEAN security hotline will also be launched at the upcoming 11th ADMM, together with the signing of a joint declaration of the ASEAN defence ministers on regional cooperation to cope with global changes and to participate in relevant global issues. For the 4th ADMM-Plus, the spokesman revealed that its agenda will also include discussions and shared views on remaining security challenges in the region and security initiatives to be jointly implemented by ASEAN and other regional groups to cope with security challenges more efficiently. (TNA)